Safe.



D. LITTLEJOHN & W. M. MITCHELL.

SAFE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1912. 1,075,1 1 3. Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

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D. LITTLEJOHN & W. M. MITCHELL.

SAFE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1912.

1 @75 1 1 3. Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

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WITNESSES [NVENTORS JafldL/if/g'ah Q AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAc4 TlNTTF'LD STATES PATENT @FFTQE DAVID LITTLEJ'OHN AND WALTER M.MITCHELL, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

SAFE.

Application filed August 23, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, DAVID LITTLEJOHN andl/VALTER M. MITCHELL, citizens of the United States of America, residingat St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Safes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to the subject of safes, and the primary aim ofthe invention is to simplify the construct-ion of safes, reduce the costof production of the same to the minimum, and produce a safe that ispractically burglar-proof, fireproof, and explosion proof.

In carrying out the objects of the invention generally stated above itwill be understood that changes in details and structural arrangementsmay be resorted to, but for illustrative purposes simple and practicalembodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings,wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved safe. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly insection, the door being removed. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view ofthe outer shell of the body, the top thereof being shown in spacedrelation. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the top of theshell is formed. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View of the door ofthe safe showing how the lock spindle is protected. Fig. 7 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 5, but showing a variation of the invention.

The improved safe comprises a body portion 1 that is formed of suitableheavy metal shaped to provide the usual internal compartment 2. The body1 is surrounded at its rear and two sides by the shell 3 that is formedof a sheet of hardened steel, such as boiler material, and the top 4 ofthe shell is formed from a similar sheet and is equipped with end andrear flanges 5 and 6, respectively, which, as suggested in Figs. 4 and 5of the accompanying drawings, may be formed by cutting away or slittingtwo corners of the same to permit the said flanges to be bent to theproper position to be riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the shell.The bottom 4 of the shell 3 is similar to, and is fastened to saidshell, in the same manner as the top 4.

Internally, the rear and sides of the body 1 is lined by the shell 7,and the top and bottom by the plates 8 and 9, and both Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Get. 7, 1913.

Serial No. 716,641.

plates have flanges 10 that overlap and are riveted or otherwise rigidlyfastened to the said shell 7. The plates 8 and 9 are provided with thefront upstanding and depending portions Which form a frame 11 thatsurrounds the entrance to compartment 2. The frame 11 has its frontsurface provided with a laterally projecting ledge 12 that surrounds theentrance to compartment 2, and said ledge has its top and sideslongitudinally grooved, as indicated by the numeral 13, and the baseplate 4 is provided with openings 14 which are in vertical alinementwith said side grooves.

The door 15 is hinged to the outer shell 8 and has a heavy drill-proofplate 16 embedded therein. The inner face of the door is stepped, asindicated at 17 to engage the seat 18 formed in the frame 11. A groove19 surrounds the stepped portion of the door, and has a rounded edge 20.The ledge 12 is adapted to enter the groove 19 when the door is closedand the rounded edge of said groove facilitates the entrance of saidledge.

The knob spindle 21 of the lock has a collar 22 fast thereon that isformed of drill-proof material, and is also spanned by a shield 23 inthe form of a strap. The collar 22 and shield 23 are preferably disposedbetween the plate 16 and the outer portion of the door, and the collarprevents the spindle being punched or forced out of positionlongitudinally and the shield prevents lateral displacement of thespindle as Well as serving as an abutment for the collar.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, thefront edges of the shell 3, as well as the similar edges of the top andbottom plates 4 and 4, project beyond the body 1 so that their outeredges are flush with the front surface of the door 15 when said door isclosed.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7, a blank is shown fromwhich top or bottom plates may be formed. This blank is similar to theblank which is shown in Fig. 5, but instead of the corners beingslitted, they may be crimped and then folded on the dotted lines 24.

It will be understood that in the event of an explosive material beinginserted through the cracks between the door and the body of the safe,if in a liquid form, it will flow through the groove 13 and escapethrough the openings 14 in the base plate 4*. Said grooves and openingsalso serve to carry off the force of the explosion, if such occurswithin the safe.

What we claim as our invention is 1. A safe comprising a body portion, ashell inclosing the sides and rear thereof, a top for the shell havingside and end flanges that overlap the rear and sides and are fastened tothe shell, a base for the shell having end and side flanges that overlapthe rear and sides and are fastened to the shell, and a door for thesafe hinged to the shell.

2. A safe comprising a body portion, a lining for the interior thereofprovided with a frame that overlaps the front surface of the body, saidoverlapping portion being rovided with an outstanding laterally pro-1ecting ledge, said ledge having its top and side portions provided witha groove, a base for the body provided with openings in alinement withthe groove, and a door provided with a groove adapted to receive saidledge.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures in presence ofwitnesses.

DAVID LITTLEJOHN. WALTER M. MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. CL IBORNE, C. B. Hoon, H. O. H001).

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. a

